Fluid dispenser



"Feb.2l, 1939. I l. E. AROLA 2,148,335

FLUID DTSPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR w wmwaa.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 21, 1939. l. E; ARQLA 2,148,335

FLUID DISPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 9 Wk 56 "Pu-fig BY w awtlkl ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID DISPENSER Ilmari E. Arola, Worcester, Mass.

Application August 9, 1938, Serial No. 223,952

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid dispensers and has for an object to provide a device adapted to dispense measured quantities of fluid and capable of Wide general use in connection with bottles or other receptacles.

A further object is to provide a liquid dispenser adapted to initially measure a predetermined amount of the liquid as the bottle is tipped to pouring position and then dispense the measured quantity of liquid, the parts all returning to initial position ready for the next operation when the bottle is tilted to upright position after each operation.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will'be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily getoutof order.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention and applied to the neck of a bottle.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional View of the dispenser and bottle neck shown in tilted pouring position.

Figure'3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line "3-3 of Figure 1 showing the piston in top plan.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the hollow piston stem and guide therefor.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the air valve and cam for holding the flap valve open until the piston arrives at dispensing position.

Figurefi is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional View showing a modified form of coupling for attaching the device to-a bottle having a smooth neck.

Figure Sis a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the dispensing device showing thelever and resilient trip for preventing movement of the piston until the throat of the dispensing chamber is full of liquid.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure8 showing the guide rib and coacting groove for directing movement of the piston.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on the line Ill-All of Figure 8 showing the guide for the hollow piston stem and showing the pivoted lever and trip in plan.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the dished air valve.

Figure 12 is a detail cross sectional View taken on the line I2-l2 of Figure 11.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, Ill designates a bottle having an exteriorly threaded neck H. For dispensing the contents of such a bottle the invention com prises a measuring cup l2 having an outlet spout IS in the cylindrical wall of the cup at the closed upper end M of the cup, the spout being normally closed through the medium of a hinged flap valve I5. The cup is open at the bottom and is provided with exterior screw threads to engage interior screw threads of a nut it which is threaded on to the neck of the bottle to attach the dispensing device thereto.

The measuring cup is provided with an inlet pipe I! which is open at the bottom and at the top and is screw threadedly engaged at the top in an annular disc H! which in turn is screw threadedly engaged in the outer periphery with the inner periphery of the cup [2. A gasket 28 is confined against the end of the neck of the bottle by the annular disc l9. Slidably mounted in the cup [2 is a piston 2| having a weight 22 on the top face. The piston is provided with a tubular piston rod 23 which is supported axially in the inlet pipe 1 I through the medium of a substantially U-shaped guide 24 having a ring 25 which loosely receives the inlet pipe I! and having out-turned flanges 26 which may be secured to the top face of the annular disc IS in any preferred manner.

-A disc flap valve 21 is hinged at the upper end as shown at 28 to the lower end of the cup inlet pipe I1 and is adapted to swing by gravity to seal the intake end. of the pipe, as best shown in Figure 2 when the bottle is tilted to pouring or dispensing position. An arcuate cam finger 29 carried by the tubular stem 23 of the piston moves and holds the valve open when the piston descends when the bottle is tilted to upright position after each dispensing operation.

The hollow piston stem 23 forms an air vent as will presently be described and is normally sealed at the bottomthrough the medium of a disc flap valve 30 carried by a collar 3| which also carries the guide finger 29. The flap valve 30 is hingedly connected to the cup inlet pipe through the medium of a pivot pin 32, best shown in Figure 6, and the lower edge 33 of the piston stem is cut away obliquely to form a seat for the flap valve 30 when the flap valve is closed.

In operation when the bottle is tilted from upright position to the pouring position shown in Figure 2, the air valve quickly closes by gravity and liquid flows through the cup inlet pipe I! against the piston, forcing the piston outwardly. As the piston moves outwardly the cam finger 29 permits the check valve 2! to gradually close until at the moment the piston arrives at the spout the valve has substantially closed to permit the measured quantity of liquid in the cup and throat to be dispensed through the spout. Since a vacuum has been created in the bottom by flow of liquid into the measuring cup, it is necessary to break this vacuum in order to promote ready discharge of the liquid from the cup through the spout. This is accomplished by an inrush of air between the piston and the end wall I4 of the cup and through the hollow piston stem 23 to lift the air valve 30 and permit air to enter on top of the measured quantity of liquid. When the bottle is tipped to upright position after each dispensing operation, the piston drops quickly to refilling position due to the air valve 30 opening by gravity and releasing air pressure made by the piston gravitating. The cam finger 29 meanwhile has arrived in position to fully open the check valve 21 and maintain the check valve open, as shown in Figure 1, until the next dispensing operation.

For adjusting the device to bottle necks of various dimensions a cork or rubber ring 34, shown in Figure 6, is sleeved upon the neck 35 of the bottle to receive the nut l6 of the dispensing device.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 12 inclusive the measuring cup 36 is provided with a rib 31 which is received in a groove 38 in the piston 39 for directing sliding movement of the piston. In this form of the invention the hollow piston stem 40 is closed at the bottom through the medium of a plug 4| and a dished check valve 42 is pivotally mounted on the stem through the medium of a bracket 43 and pivot pin 44, best shown in Figure 12. The dished valve normally seals an inlet opening 45 in the wall of the stem.

This modified form of the invention is also provided with a lever 46 which is pivoted through the medium of a pivot pin 41 on an annular bracket 48 carried by the upper end of the hollow piston stem. A leaf spring check 49 is secured at one end to rivets or other connectors to the annular disc 5| upon which the piston normally seats.

The piston stem is slidably supported in the cup inlet tube 52 through the medium of a substantially U-shaped bracket 53, best shown in Figure 10, having a ring 54 slidably receiving the piston stem and having outwardly directed flanges 55 on the upper ends of the legs secured to the annular .disc 5| in any preferred manner.

In operation the resilient trip 49 engages the lever 46 and prevents the piston from gravitating, when the bottle is tilted to pouring position, before fluid fills the inlet pipe 52. The weight of the fluid in the pipe permits the lever 46 to deform the resilient trip 49 so that the piston may function as hitherto described. After the dispensing operation, when the bottle is tilted upright the weight of the piston carries the lever 46 downward to deform the resilient trip 49 so that the lever may again lodge in reloading position.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid dispenser comprising a container, a measuring cup having a closed top and open at the bottom, means for securing the cup at the bottom to form a closure for the container, there being an outlet opening in the cup at the closed top thereof, an inlet pipe extending axially from the cup into the container, a piston slidably mounted in the cup, a tubular stem for the piston I extending axially through and below the inlet pipe, a flap valve closing the intake end of the stem and adapted to be opened by air moving across the piston and through the stem to release vacuum in the container when the container is tilted to pouring position, and normally open flap valve on the end of the inlet pipe adapted to be closed by pressure of the contents of the container thereagainst when the container is tipped to dispensing position and prevent flow of the contents of the bottle into the measuring cup beyond a predetermined quantity.

2. A fluid dispenser comprising a container, a measuring cup having a closed top and open at the bottom, means for securing the cup at the bottom to form a closure for the container, there being an outlet opening in the cup at the closed top thereof, an inlet pipe extending axially from the cup into the container, a piston slidably mounted in the cup, a tubular stem for the piston extending axially through and below the inlet pipe, a flap valve closing the intake end of the stem and adapted to be opened by air moving across the piston and through the stem to release vacuum in the container when the container is tilted to pouring position, a normally open flap valve on the end of the inlet pipe adapted to be closed by pressure of the contents of the container thereagainst when the container is tipped to dispensing position and prevent flow of the contents of the bottle into the measuring cup beyond a predetermined quantity, and a cam carried by the piston stem and engaging the flap valve of the inlet pipe to open the flap valve to loading position when the piston descends after the container is tilted to upright position after each dispensing operation.

3. A fluid dispenser comprising a container, a measuring cup forming a closure for the container and having an outlet opening, a piston slidably mounted in the measuring cup and moved by pressure of the contents of the container to unseal said outlet opening, an inlet pipe for the measuring cup extending into the container, a hollow stem for the piston adapted to form an air vent to break the vacuum in the container when a measured quantity of the contents is being dispensed through said outlet opening, gravity operated means forming a closure for-said inlet pipe when the piston has unsealed said outlet opening to dispense a measured quantity of the contents of the container, and a valve carried by the stem adapted to be opened by pressure of air across the piston and through said stem and permit air entering the container to break the vacuum during the dispensing operation.

4. A fluid dispenser comprising a container, a measuring cup forming a closure for the container and having an outlet opening, a piston slidably mounted in the measuring cup and moved by pressure of the contents of the container to unseal said outlet opening, an inlet pipe for the measuring cup extending into the container, a hollow stem for the piston adapted to form an air vent to break the vacuum in the container when a measured quantity of the contents is being dispensed through said outlet opening, a disc carried by the free end of the piston stem and adapted to form a closure for the open end of said inlet pipe when the piston unseals said outlet opening, a resilient finger projecting radially into the cup, a pivoted lever carried by the piston stem and adapted to deform the resilient finger to prevent the piston from gravitating when the container is tilted to pouring position before the contents of the container fills the inlet pipe, and valve means carried by the tubular piston stem .dislodgable by air passing across the piston from said outlet opening and through the stem to break the vacuum in the container during the 10 dispensing operation.

ILMARI E. AROLA. 

